At Dubai International Academy, sport is a cornerstone of our commitment to holistic education, fostering physical health, mental wellbeing, and character development. Since our founding in 2005, we have prioritized sports as a vital part of our school’s ethos, embracing the philosophy of "Sport for All." This approach ensures opportunities for every student, from enthusiastic beginners to elite athletes, celebrating effort, achievement, and participation across all levels.
A Tradition of Excellence
Our commitment to sports has earned DIA prestigious recognition, including being named the 2023–2024 Winners of the prestigous Ryal award of HH Hamdan bin Mohammed Order of Merit for Sports Education School, a testament to our leadership in promoting student health and athletic excellence. Most recently, our Seconadry and Primary students achieved outstanding results at the World School Games 2024–2025, placing 3rd overall (U13 Team WSG Champions, U15 WSG Runner up and U11 WSG Third Place) and proudly becoming winning a host of gold, silver and bronze medals and many MVP in the individual sports.
Participation and Inclusion
- On average, over 1604 students are actively involved in competitive sports teams from 875 Primary School and 729 Secondary students.
- 164 teams across the school represent a wide range of activities.
- 19 competitive sports are offered, including swimming, athletics, football, cricket, netball, and more.
- 57 dedicated coaches and a 12-member School Wide Sports Faculty supporting student development.
- 500+ Primary fixtures annually, create countless opportunities for teamwork and competition.
Achievements and Partnerships
DIA competes in the DASSA leagues, with 90% of our teams in Division 1, showcasing the strength and talent of our athletes. In 2022–2023, we proudly secured 19 DASSA championship titles across the school.
Our international reach extends to partnerships with local clubs like Shabab Al Ahli and Al Nasr, as well as global success in events such as the World School Games and international tournaments in Spain, Italy, the UK, and Sri Lanka.
Wellbeing Through Sport
Student wellbeing and happiness are at the heart of our vision. Sports at DIA promote physical fitness, resilience, and inclusivity, creating a positive impact on student health and fostering a sense of belonging. Through our programs, we aim to inspire lifelong healthy habits and teamwork.
Whether your child is discovering their passion or striving for competitive excellence, DIA provides the environment, resources, and encouragement they need to thrive. Together, we dream, inspire, and achieve—on and off the field.
Sports Activities, Teams and Fixtures
Secondary School Sports Leagues
DIA Competitive Sport Philosophy
- To provide all our students with the opportunity to participate in as many sports as possible
- To learn and develop advanced skills in sports
- To promote team spirit, sportsmanship, stability, and meaningful social development through diverse programs
- To field teams that are skilled, disciplined, dedicated, and motivated to achieve the best possible
- To promote the values of sports which will remain with our students for a lifetime
- To provide adequate coaching equipment and facilities
Dubai International Academy is a part of the DASSA League and participates in the following sports:
- Basketball
- Netball
- Table Tennis
- Football
- Track & Field
- Softball
- Golf
- Cross Country
- Tennis
- Cricket
- Swimming
- Volleyball
- Badminton
- Ski
- Sailing
Cricket
Dubai International Academy is one of the finest cricketing schools in Dubai, known not only for our exceptional achievements but also for our ability to cater for students of all abilities. There are different age group teams that are in active competition against schools across the region. The teams’ fixture lists are largely made up of fixtures against Dubai schools, academies and visiting teams.
Cricketers at the school compete in a number of tournaments for different age groups, including the NSL league, DASSA league, ARCH tournament, Shreyas Memorial Cup and other outdoor tournaments.
Dubai International Academy has performed consistently well over the years. There have been individual achievements of our players getting selected in the UAE U-19 national team.
We embark on a major overseas tour every year. Our most recent tour to India was very successful where the team faced challenging playing conditions. The tours are being running for last 7 years allowing the players to bond and perform in a different setting.
We have a highly dedicated coaching team that runs afternoon and weekend sessions for the various teams. The players are challenged and have set goals for improvement. Dubai International Academy students enjoy top class cricket facilities; net areas and a combination of outdoor grass and turf wickets. The thriving cricket programme allows students to play regularly and be an active team through the year.
Swimming
The Dubai International Academy competitive swimming programme is designed for girls and boys from every year level. It is also offered as a part of the PHE curriculum programmes at every year level. Competitive swimming training sessions are available for swimmers from school, club to international standard, with dedicated developmental programmes.
Dubai International Academy is recognised as one of the top Division 1 schools in swimming in UAE. We have four coaches, supported by Speedo swimming club Dubai. DIA is equipped with impressive training facilities, with a 25m pool built to schools’ and clubs’ competition standards.
Students of DIA participate in a host of local, regional and national swimming competitions. We continually produce strong swimmers on school, club, national and international levels. Along the way, swimmers learn lifelong skills such as effective time management, dedication and goal setting – all of which transfer to successful adult life.
In its short history, the school has produced 4 international swimmers and one of them qualified for the European Youth Olympics in Baku 2019. The others have represented their countries and participated in their home country National Championships winning many medals.
The swimming squads usually operate in small groups. By maintaining groups of this size the squad is able to facilitate an atmosphere of enjoyment and challenge offered through peer interaction. This, coupled with the highly individual attention offered by the coaches to each swimmer, creates a positive and productive training environment. Training sessions are offered from 3 to 4 days per week, with individual training programmes tailored to the swimmer’s stage of development.
Athletics
With over 90 athletes, DIA’s competitive Athletics programme is one of the most popular sports. It is available to all students, girls and boys and is a major part of the PHE programme. In addition the competitive coaching programme allows students to experience the sport and try all of the event areas in the programme. Even without a designated track, students that are competing at a more advanced level, can use our sister school track during the season.
We have the UAE interschool record holder in high jump for U12 and U14 girls.
Basketball
The Basketball programme at Dubai International Academy is available to all girls and boys. It is one of the most successful sports that is also offered as a unit of sport in the PHE programmes. All the year groups compete in national and international schools competitions.
Basketball players have access to the normal training programme (two to three sessions a week) during the season plus additional coaching sessions when necessary. Players also have access to additional Strength and Conditioning sessions in our excellent Fitness Centre facility. Nutrition support and Sports Psychology are also available to players on a one to one basis.
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Message from the Head of Physical education and competitive Sports (Primary) |
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Welcome to Sport and Physical Education at Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills! At DIA, we believe that sport and physical activity are essential to every child’s development. Our Primary Physical Education program is designed to be inclusive, engaging, and enriching, ensuring all students, from KG2 through Year 6, develop transferable skills, resilience, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for health and fitness. Our PE curriculum covers a wide range of activities, including Health and Fitness, Invasion Games, Swimming, Athletics, Striking and Fielding, Net Games, and Gymnastics. These activities allow students to explore their interests, develop sport-specific skills, and foster cooperation and determination. To further enrich their experience, we align our curriculum with competitive schedules and continually explore opportunities to enhance their learning. The Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) program at DIA offers a diverse range of after-school sports, from basketball and football to table tennis and kickboxing. Our partnerships with leading community organisations, such as Speedo, Hurricanes Rugby, and Ultimate Athletics, create additional pathways for development. Whether participating for fun or preparing for competitive teams, every student is encouraged to find their passion and grow their confidence. For those with a competitive edge, DIA proudly participates in the DASSA leagues and the World School Games. From Year 3 onwards, our teams compete in sports such as football, swimming, netball, and basketball, training rigorously to represent the school. These competitions foster a sense of pride, achievement, and camaraderie, celebrating both individual and team successes. We also champion events such as Sports Days, where students of all ages participate in fun, challenging activities that promote house spirit and teamwork. These events bring our community together and highlight the importance of collaboration and perseverance. At DIA, we are committed to nurturing every child’s physical and emotional well-being through sport. We strive to provide safe, enjoyable, and rewarding experiences that inspire our students to lead active, healthy lives. I look forward to working with your children and supporting them on their journey to achieving their personal bests, both on and off the field. Katie Allason
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Message From The Director Of Sport & Physical and Health education |
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Dear Parents and Students, Dear DIA Community, As we reflect on another incredible year of athletics at DIA Emirates Hills, I am overwhelmed with pride and thankfulness for our tremendous accomplishments and our student-athletes' never-ending enthusiasm. This year, our sports programme achieved new heights, and I am honoured to highlight some of our incredible successes. With over 164 teams and 1,604 student-athletes, our community has demonstrated exceptional devotion, ability, and passion in 20 different sports. Our hard work and dedication to greatness were rewarded with seventeen (17) DASSA Performance Division 1 trophies, two (2) World School Games Intranational Championship titles and many more which demonstrate the excellent standards we maintain in our sports endeavours.
Student-athletes are striving to succeed in two demanding areas simultaneously- academics and sports. They have the responsibility of developing and working toward an educational goal as well as training in their favourite sports. We encourage and assist student-athletes in maintaining academic eligibility so they can continue to participate in sports. Success does not occur overnight; it is an ongoing process. Commitment is a very important part of the student’s development in sports. They must understand that coming on the day of the event or game is not sufficient. Athletes need to understand that practice along with all the other obligations is necessary in order to achieve success.Parent involvement, whether it be as a supportive fun, housing visiting athletes, or volunteering at concessions, all are welcome to help in creating the community you wish to be a part of. At DIA volunteering is essential to the success of the programme and development of school spirit. We welcome all students and families to participate in sports at DIA. Involvement in sports will help strengthen relationships across the many families and cultural groups which exist in our school. Please take some time to thoughtfully consider your participation in sports. Detailed lists of the secondary try out, school events and fixtures will be displayed on our school webpage. At Dubai International Academy we have talented young athletes who participate in a wide array of sports teams and events.
Also, I would like to invite everyone to support our athletes throughout the seasons of sports. We will be delighted to see you out there cheering on our teams. I am looking forward to another successful sporting year ahead. GO WOLVES! Sincerely Mihail G. Kouzev Email: mihailk@diadubai.com |
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